Conditions & Diseases

Hard Science linking EMF Exposure to Ill Health and Cancer

The huge increase in electromagnetic energy in today's modern electronic-charged environment coincides with an alarming increase in new-age ailments such as chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain, tinnitus, depression, hormone dysfunction, Alzheimer’s disease and leukemia, and with a huge spike in childhood cancers.

The body of empirical evidence confirming that the EMF exposure causes health problems and damages human cells is very strong. Children are more at risk than adults and many children are now showing signs of electrical sensitivities. Long-term exposure to electrical contaminates are known to have a variety of adverse health effects including many types of cancer.

EMFs are Scientifically Linked to Ill Health

In short, EMFs interfere with our body’s “electrical” communication system. They disrupt cellular function in every part of the body and interfere with the body’s natural processes, such as sleep, hormone production, neurological function, immune response and our ability to heal. EMFs reduce our melatonin levels. Melatonin is an important neurohormone that is a potent, natural antioxidant that protects cells from genetic damage that can lead to cancer as well as neurological, cardiac, and reproductive damage

EMFs cause chronic inflammation in the body. Inflammation has been linked with cellular/tissue/organ damage, cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, neurological diseases, and Alzheimer’s. EMFs trigger the immune system to release inflammatory substances such as histamines and cytokines as a protective mechanism. These markers of inflammation have been shown to highly correlate with asthma and other allergic reactions.

EMFs can over-stimulate the immune system, then suppress it and decrease T-lymphocyte production. T-lymphocytes orchestrate the immune system’s response to infected or malignant cells. EMFs raise cortisol (stress hormone) in the body. This can lead to sleep disorders, depressed immunity, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, premature aging, neurological problems, and more.

EMFs cause cell membranes to be locked in an inactive state (oxidative stress) that prevents toxins, or free radicals, from leaving cells. There is evidence that this inactive state can damage DNA and prevent the body from repairing it, which is a first step to cancer. EMFs cause calcium ion efflux. Calcium ion alteration of cells by electromagnetic radiation is linked to neurological degeneration, to cancer, to dangerous heart arrhythmias, and many other health effects.

EMFs can elevate blood sugar levels and blood viscosity, which can be associated with symptoms such as headaches, chest pain, higher blood pressure, blurred vision, and fatigue among others.

Released in the year 2000 a study of 44,788 sets of twins from Sweden, Denmark and Finland concluded that environmental factors were the initiating event in the majority of cancers. The strongest contender and most likely culprit, is artificial (man-made) electromagnetic radiation.

On May 31, 2011 The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). The official classification of wireless EMF as Group 2B puts wireless radiation in with 260 other substances already classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” this includes substances such as lead, styrene and the pesticide DDT. This decision mirrors the 2001 IARC finding that extremely low frequency (electrical power lines and appliances) be classified as a 2B Carcinogen based primarily with respect to childhood leukemia. It also said that there was "insufficient" data to draw any conclusions on other cancers.

A study released in 2008 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that was based on data representing 90 percent of the U.S. population found caner rates for children highest in the Northeast US. Lead author of the study Dr. Jun Li said: “Environmental factors might play a role, including exposure to radiation. Radiation has been linked with the most common types of childhood cancer -- leukemia, lymphoma and brain cancers.

Martin Halper, the EPA's Director of Analysis and Support says, "I have never seen a set of epidemiological studies that remotely approached the weight of evidence that we're seeing with EMFs. Clearly there is something here."

In 2001, Ahlbom et al. conducted a review into EMFs and Health, and found that there was a doubling in childhood leukemia for magnetic fields of over 0.4 µT (4 milligauss)

In 2005 Draper et al. found a 70% increase in childhood leukemia for those living within 200 metres (656 ft) of an overhead transmission line, and a 23% increase for those living between 200 and 600 metres (656 and 1,969 ft).

The California Health Department of Health, EMF Program 2002 concluded: "EMFs from power lines, home wiring and appliances can cause some degree of increased risk of childhood leukemia, brain cancer, Lou Gehrig's disease and miscarriages."

David Carpenter, Dean at the School of Public Health, State University of New York believes it is likely that up to 30% of all childhood cancers come from exposure to EMF.

In well-conducted, blind studies Professor Magda Havas at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario found significant links between “dirty electricity” in homes and schools and diseases like Multiple Sclerosis and diabetes and to asthma, ADD/ADHD in children. Havas also found a link between cordless digital phones and changes in the heart rate of 40% of subjects tested.

The BioInitiative Report (2007)Published in 2007 by an international working group of scientists, researchers and public health policy professions The BioInitiative Group concluded that the existing standards for public safety for EMFs are completely inadequate to protect your health. The report includes studies showing evidence that electromagnetic fields and exposure to radio frequencies can:

EMF have been shown to cause other potentially harmful biological effects, such as leakage of the blood brain barrier

The BioInitiative Report 2012 UpdateMore strong, scientific evidence has been published linking EMF to adverse health including brain tumor risks from cell phones, damage to DNA and genes, effects on memory, learning, behavior, attention; sleep disruption and cancer and neurological diseases like Alzheimer's disease. Effects on sperm and miscarriage (fertility and reproduction), effects of wireless on the brain development of the fetus and infant, and effects of wireless classrooms on children and adolescents is addressed. Mechanisms for biological action and public health responses in other countries are discussed.

Probably the most convincing evidence of potential harm comes from living cells themselves when they start to manufacture stress proteins upon exposure to EMF. The stress response occurs with a number of potentially harmful environmental factors, such as elevated temperature, changes in pH, toxic metals, etc. This means that when stress protein synthesis is stimulated by radiofrequency or power frequency EMF, the body is telling us in its own language that RF exposure is potentially harmful.

We are all exposed to harmful EMFs in our homes but you can reduce your exposure greatly with an EMF home inspection